One cop dead, one injured in series of FARC attacks across Colombia

(Image credit: Noticiero Digital)

One police officer has been reported dead and another was injured after a series of guerrilla attacks on police patrols and military units throughout rural Colombia.

The form of attacks were mainly gun fire and throwing of home-made mortar grenades.

The officer who died was in Sartineta, a municipality of Norte de Santender. Newspaper Vangaurdia said it is unclear whether the attack was by the FARC or the ELN, although it is possible that both groups could be working together, as the ELN recently announced its support of the FARC in its latest attacks.

ELN rebels support FARC in resuming attacks against Colombian state

The injured officer was struck by shrapnel from tatucos in La Guayacana, two hours from the port city Tumaco in the Nariño province, authorities said.

Other attacks took place in the muncipalities La Montañita, López de Micay Tumaco, and and another in Tumaco near an Ecopetrol gas station. Also, last week a car bomb was discovered in the road connecting the Caqueta province to the municipality of Puerto Rico. No further injuries or deaths have been reported.

Violence has been rising ever since a series of military airstrikes in May spurred rebel group FARC to lift their self-imposed unilateral ceasefire.

FARC suspends unilateral ceasefire after military air strike kills at least 26 guerrillas

The FARC threatened to halt negotiations last week after a military airstrike killed one of their top negotiators.

FARC peace negotiator killed in strike that spurred end to truce: Rebels

However, as of now, peace talks still resume between the government and the FARC over an armed conflict that has lasted over 50 years. They have been ongoing in Havana, Cuba since 2012.

Sources

Farc redobla ataques contra Policía y Ejército en Nariño, Caquetá y Catatumbo

Investigan nuevos ataques terroristas en Nariño

Un policía muerto deja ataque en Norte de Santander

Farc hostigó puesto de policía en Lopez de Micay, Cauca

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